Digital Video Camera & Camcorder Review

Features include: 1/3″ 3-CCD 16:9 HD/DVCPRO/DV Cinema P2 Camera with CineSwitchTM Technology, CineGammaTM Software and IEEE 1394 Interface. U.S. List Price $5,995.00.

LetsGoDigital has a story on the Panasonic AG-HVX200 and says: “Representing a quantum leap in camcorder technology, Panasonic Broadcast introduced today at NAB 2005 the Panasonic AG-HVX200, the world’s first 1080i/720p/480i multi-format camcorder. Offering flexibility and versatility never before available to video professionals, the Panasonic AG-HVX200 DVCPRO HD P2 hand-held camcorder provides 1080i and 720p recording with the production-proven image quality of 100 Mbps DVCPRO HD. The Panasonic AG-HVX200 shoots on a P2 card in 1080/60i, 30p and 24p; in 720/60p, 30p and 24p; and in DVCPRO50, DVCPRO or DV. By eliminating all moving parts from the camera recording path when shooting on a P2 card.”

DVXUser has reviewed the Panasonic AG-HVX200 and writes - “It’s basically everything we’ve come to know and love about the DVX100, only “moreâ€?. It looks very much like the DVX100 but physically bigger, and it retains all the best features of the DVX100 (including CineGamma, CineMatrix, the Scene File Dial, the true manual zoom, the precise manual focus, the excellent stock wide-angle 4.5mm Leica lens, and the best audio subsystem on any prosumer camera). It even uses the same batteries. But to this great pedigree it adds more: a longer zoom range (13x, as opposed to 10x on the DVX, for a focal range of 4.5mm to 58.5mm, which will help provide for shallower depth of field); 16:9 CCDs for native 16:9 recording in either high-definition or standard-def; more recording formats (in addition to DV, there’s DVCPRO50 and DVCPRO-HD); more recording mediums (in addition to miniDV tape, it offers the revolutionary P2 solid-state memory cards, and may also record or transfer footage directly to optional external 1394 hard disks); more audio (it can record up to four tracks of audio at once); more remote control capability (in addition to the familiar remote zoom jack, the HVX provides for remote focus and — get this — remote iris control!), more feedback (in addition to the familiar distance scale for focusing, it now reads out the focus distance in feet & meters); and there are other bonuses in store as well.”

Engaget reports on the Panasonic AG-HVX200 and writes - “With this high-quality, non-linear media system you get instant access to recorded contents without needing to fast forward or rewind as with tape, but it don’t come cheap. For those of us currently bitching about the prices of Memory Stick Duo cards, we can perhaps take small comfort in the fact that P2 media is looking at about $1700 (gulp) for a 4GB card, which will get you all of about 18 minutes of footage (squeezing 5 episodes of the Simpsons onto your PSP’s 256MB card ain’t lookin’ quite so bad anymore, is it?). The camera will weigh under 5 pounds, but will weigh about 6 grand on your pocketbook. And if you want it bundled with two 8GB P2 cards, you’ll be dropping a full 10 Clevelands (Grover, that is) on this baby.”

Really comprehensive Panasonic FAQ here

Panasonic, HD camcorder, camcorder, review, AG-HVX200